The Skin & Permanent Makeup Institute

I had an appointment here for permanent makeup consultation and when i arrived they told me the woman who does the permanent makeup consults wasn’t there that day due to a family emergency. That was very annoying considering the secretary hadn’t mentioned it when she called to verify my appointment a few hours prior. i told her it would have been proper to notify me before i arrived since that’s the whole reason i came in. another girl in the office wanted to know what was going on and why i was annoyed so the secretary gave her the low down, but in spanish (right in front of me). Little did they know, i speak some spanish and understood what they were saying. Nowhere in their conversation did the mention the family emergency that was presented to me. All in all, they were very unprofessional in the way they handed things. There are better places to get perm makeup in the city anyway, so keep looking.

Horrible! First time I went the lady filed my nails to the stub and did the worst mani pedi ever. When I went back to get it fixed I was told I had nail fungus. The new tech said the old lady had messed up a lot on people and lifted nails, did not sanitize tools, cut people, and used contaminated nail polish. I called owner for my money back and she yelled at me for twenty minutes calling me names, saying she was recording me against my will and said ‘it’s people like you businesses hate always wanting freebies.’ All I wanted was my money back for crappy service. It was her new technician who offered free services in lieu of but I politely declined. I would never ever let anyone I know go to this place!

My sister and I found this place on craigslist and both made appointments for their spa day that includes 3 services. They called us once the day before and 4 more times the day of which was very excessive. We show up to our appointment and were asked 3 more times what services we wanted though we told her when we made the appointment just to find out she double booked the esthetician so an LVN did my sisters facial which was very poor. My facial was extremely painful and I have no idea what she used because she didn’t explain anything. My body wrap was a joke the products were not spread on correctly and the bed only warmed my feet. The only reason I would ever go back was the massage therapist. I don’t know her name but she had a facial piercing. She was amazing and very sweet! Having her massage at the end made me very relaxed! The rest of the staff needs some serious training or needs to be replaced. There was a TON of confusion among the staff. Otherwise the facility was clean and easy to find.

this place is awesome, I just got my eyebrows and my eye line and I love it, Elvira is the best. I’m addicted to this place. People are very nice and friendly., The owner is helpful and always teaching what is best for you… than you!!!

My review is for the wonderful help I have had with skin care products here.
I was recently reading in my Vegetarian Times magazine about a completely organic skin care line called Eminence. I went online to read more about it and find out where to get it.
It turns out that The Skin Institute is the only nearby place that carries Eminence products so I decided to come find out more.
I have spoken with a few different people here and they have consistently been very friendly and helpful — both over the phone and when I have come by to talk with an Esthetician.
They have taken the time both over the phone and when I have visited to give me detailed explanations of which products I should choose and how to use them. I’ve asked a lot of questions and they have kindly taken the time to discuss them with me.
They didn’t push the Eminence products, or any other products and services, which I appreciate. I am particular about skin care products and I felt they gave me very good suggestions and advice. They seem sincere and knowledgeable and I have learned good information both about skin care and the Eminence line when I have come here. I especially appreciate that they have demonstrated the proper amounts of the product to use, which are actually very small, so that I don’t use too much and waste money buying more of it than I really need to.
They offer several services, including laser hair removal and pedicures. Their prices seem reasonable. If I try any of their services I will definitely update my review. Also, they offer a very good military discount.

Okay everyone has a bad day so I am hoping this was the case for my service.
I recently went to this place for eye brow and eye lash tinting. I read the reviews and didn’t see anything horrible so away I went. (It has been extremely difficult to find this service in San Antonio btw)
They have 2 girls who do this service and 1 had to leave suddenly so they were down to 1 and were running very late (about 45 min-​an hour) but no biggie, it was Saturday and I didn’t have any other things to do and chatting with the receptionist was very pleasant so that was a non issue.
I have red hair and very light freckled skin and my eye lashes and eye brows are so blonde they look like they are not there so I like getting them tinted auburn and the lashes black. They only had brown and black so requested brown on brows and black on lashes and the color on brows can be controlled by how long you leave it on so they are not too dark and clash.
So much for brown — I ended up with black eye brows and the top lashes are mostly covered black but the bottom did not get any color at all. Before she started I told her my bottom lashes do better when a mascara wand is used to coat them while eyes still open and then closing to get the top done. she said well the way we do it here is together and smush the color and I don’t have a mascara wand, they are locked up. Huh?
Boy do I look «beautiful» after going to this place. Black eye brows goes so well with red hair, freckled fair skin. Lashes real pretty black but not fully done on the top and not at all on the bottom. I was not pleased.
I will try and hunt down the girl that used to do this for me in Austin to try and fix this.

Elvira, I believe is the permanent eye makeup techs name.
She was doing a touch up on a previously not so hot job. This experience was very different,. Though the office is simple and maybe a little scary, all the tools are sterile and she explains the process thoroughly.
I would highly recommend. Permanent make up is a forever thing and I would totally come here if getting anything done again. Their customer service, professionalism and availability are all major pluses.
I’m a fan!!!

I had a facial here over the weekend via an Eversave and actually really enjoyed it. Their partitions don’t give much privacy (only curtains diving up a big room), but they’re moving soon, which should remedy that issue.
I had the mother knows best organic facial, and it was great. My esthetician spent SO much time massaging my face and paid special attention to my sinuses, which was blissful. It wasn’t very crowded that day, so it wasn’t very loud, and I’m usually a chatty-​kathy during my facials, so the little noise there was didn’t bother me.
It was pretty clean overall, and the prices are great!

My service was fabulous! The price was reasonable and the service provider was a little chatty but did a great job. The only down side was the partitions… maybe when they move it will be a bit more private

Groupon brought me here to get permanent upper eyelid liner. The name «Institute» had me looking for a large building but I found this place in a strip center. The space is one big storefront area partitioned into working spaces by use if fashionable looking privacy ceiling to floor curtains. The décor is decidedly clean and contemporary, black and white with wide plank wood (faux) floors and flooded with lots of natural sunlight. The music playing from the front desk computer sets a nice ambiance without being a snoozefest. Sounds of ongoing procedures punctuate the music but somehow it’s a reassuring sound to know that I’m not the only one here.
The receptionist is warm and welcoming, and obviously knowledgeable about the services offered without sounding like a pushy salesperson. They are a bit slow to handle more than one person at intake but I didn’t mind. I didn’t like so much that the tech was in no hurry to get set up for my appt – and as a result it took another 10 – 15 min to get started – UNTIL I saw that absolutely everything was sterile, in packages, and laid out for me to see.
The intake forms were appropriately lengthy, allowing me to feel at ease knowing that they know enough to ask the questions in the first place. The prep consultation was thorough without being verbose about the procedure and aftercare.
The procedure itself is a little painful, and I do have a high pain threshhold. But just like a marathon or giving birth, there is an endpoint to look forward to, so that helps.
I’ve done the upper eyelids previously, at the office of a well reputed cosmetic surgeon in Austin. I had only a thin line done so that I could see whether I really wanted permanent eyeliner look. The difference between the two experiences is shocking, actually. I much preferred the way they do it here at The Skin… Institute. It just feels like they do the procedure much more often, and as a result, much better.
I highly recommend this place!
Ps they do Vajazzling – not the piercing, but the glue-​on crystals in prepared patterns… pretty.